Last week, Naxos released The Robert Craft Edition of the complete Stravinsky ballets. Most people probably would not peg me as an admirer of Stravinsky, and they are partially right. I have not been able to get into the whole fascination and awe of Stravinsky as a composer and theorist. But his music does have a certain appeal to me, particularly because of his orchestration. Before purchasing The Robert Craft Edition, I owned five of the ballets, Pulcinella, Danses Concertantes, and the big three, The Firebird, Petrushka, and The Rite of Spring. So far, I have listened to the big threee from The Robert Craft Edition, and find the interpretation to be very close with that of Boulez. I am anxiously awaiting to get through all of the ballets, especially Les Noces, which I have read is a 20th-century must in the repertory. Of note is the World premiere recording of the complete 1910 version of The Firebird, the same version Pierre Boulez recorded with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on Deutsche Grammaphon. I am also looking forward to revisiting the three Greek ballets: Apollo, Agon, and Orpheus. I had the pleasure of seeing the New York City Ballet perform these ballets two Springs ago. Based on what I have heard so far, the production of the recordings is very good, the interpretation is good, and the liner notes provide good information on the works and the performers.
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